Polymerizable Ligands for Stable Semiconducting Nanoparticle Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing semiconducting light emitting nanoparticles lack improved thermal stability, long-term stability, solubility in polar solvents, and maintain stable dispersion in solutions and films, particularly in electronic, optical, and biomedical devices, while ensuring high quantum yield and luminous efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A semiconducting light emitting nanoparticle comprising a core, optionally with shell layers, and a polymerizable compound represented by chemical formula (III), which provides enhanced stability through polymerization and crosslinking, ensuring compatibility with polymeric systems and solvents, preventing aggregation, and maintaining stable dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional stabilizer ligands are used to stabilize semiconducting nanoparticles, then thermal stability and long-term stability are improved, but solubility in polar solvents deteriorates and stable dispersion in solutions and films is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal stability and long-term stabilityVSAvoidsolubility in polar solvents and stable dispersion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer ligand is designed with distinct functional regions: a hydrophobic anchor group (thiol, phosphine, or carboxylic acid) that binds to the nanoparticle surface, and a hydrophilic polymerizable group (acrylate or epoxy) that provides polar solvent compatibility. This local differentiation of properties within the same molecule resolves the contradiction between thermal stability from surface binding and solubility from polar interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The ligand functions as a composite structure combining inorganic-compatible anchor groups with organic polymerizable groups. This composite design enables the nanoparticle to simultaneously achieve thermal stability through strong surface binding and solubility/dispersion stability through polar solvent interactions with the polymerizable groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If polymerizable monomeric stabilizer ligands are used to form polymer shells, then stability is enhanced, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of nanoparticleVSAvoidcomplexity of polymerization process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer ligand is pre-functionalized with polymerizable groups before nanoparticle formation. This preliminary preparation allows the ligand to self-assemble into stable monolayers on the nanoparticle surface, and subsequent polymerization simply crosslinks these pre-formed structures, greatly simplifying the overall process compared to forming polymer shells after nanoparticle synthesis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The polymerizable groups on the ligand molecules self-assemble and self-crosslink to form stable polymer shells around the nanoparticles. This self-organizing behavior reduces the need for complex external control mechanisms and simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining high stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If bifunctional polymerizable stabilizer ligands are used with anchor groups, then binding to nanoparticle surface is improved, but manufacturing precision and process control become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding strength to nanoparticle surfaceVSAvoidcontrol of surface polymerization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes changes in physical and chemical parameters during the process: the anchor groups naturally bind to the nanoparticle surface through strong chemical affinity (parameter change from free ligand to bound ligand), and subsequent polymerization is triggered by changing conditions such as light irradiation or catalyst addition. These parameter changes provide clear process control points that simplify manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The nanoparticle achieves improved thermal stability, long-term stability, high quantum yield, and luminous efficiency, with high chemical compatibility and solubility in polar solvents, maintaining stable dispersion in solutions and films, and preventing aggregation.

Implementation Method 1

the polymerizable functional groups of the surface bound ligands can be polymerized or crosslinked to generate a polymer shell or coating layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

monomeric compounds bearing a functional group that can get chemisorbed on the nanoparticle surface (a so-called 'anchor group')

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemisorption: Chemisorption

Data Source

PatentEP4028485B1New ligands and semiconducting nanoparticle

Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to semiconducting nanoparticle.